As a basis for human existence, love becomes a sensitive subject in Uche Ebosie’s novel, Murdered Love. Here the author uses love to preach against tribalism, noting that a flourishing love may be threatened or utterly ruined by ethnic sentiment.

In the novel, a promising relationship between Larry a young man of Igbo origin and Ronke, a Yoruba girl, is ultimately cut short thus leaving the duo in frustration. Larry who falls in love with Ronke at first sight is however treated with disdain by Ronke’s mother. The latter believes her daughter should have nothing to do with an Ibo, since she too had a previous sour tale to tell against the Ibos.

Nevertheless, the lovers remain undaunted in their mission as they are set to get married against all odds. And whenever the lovebirds are unable to see each other, life simply becomes miserable for both of them.

While Ronke’s mother continues to spit fire against the relationship, on the other hand, a beautiful and charming Ronke is welcomed and loved by Larry’s relations. Ronke even succeeds in displaying her talents and eventually steals the heart of her supposed in-laws.

The novel exposes the traumatic experience of the lovers in the hands of their detractors. And rather than serving as a propelling force to the engine of their love, Ronke’s brother, Bode supports his mother against Larry. In fact, Larry’s life is threatened and he almost got lynched for daring to profess his love to a lady from another ethnic group. He is molested, rebuked, abused and embarrassed but he refuses to bulge.

Eventually, Larry loses the queen of his heart to an untimely death, But the memory of this wonderful woman and lover who touches his life can never be erased. In short, Larry lives, talks, eats, drinks and does everything with his amazing princess.

Ronke’s smother who swore that it would be over her dead body for her to marry an ‘Omo Igbo ‘but to marry from her tribe. She lost her because of her selfishness and sheer folly, never to see her again. Had I known now remains her solace.

While Murdered Love preaches unity and sanctity of love, it also evokes pity in favour of the lovers whose love is unduly scuttled. The author’s ability to create suspense is notable too. However, the novel suffers greatly from poor editing as the reader encounters many grammatical and typographical errors in virtually all the chapters. It is envisaged that as the novel is approved as literature text for secondary schools in Lagos State, the author would consider a new edition that is well edited.